Reports: Kadima Splitting, 8 MKs to Join Likud

Group of 7-8 MKs led by ex-MK Tzachi Hanegbi may split off from largest Knesset faction, join Likud.

Contact Editor

Gil Ronen, 22/07/12 19:32

Tzachi Hanegbi

Israel news photo: Flash 90

A group of seven or eight Knesset members is planning to split off from Kadima and join Likud, according to Channel 2's Rina Matzliach.

Matzliach says that the group is led by former Kadima MK Tzachi Hanegbi, who left Likud to join Kadima several years ago. Hanegbi will reportedly become Minister of Home Front Defense as part of the deal.

The identities of the MKs in the group that is planning to split from Kadima are not known. In order to split off from an existing faction of Kadima's size, the rebelling group needs to have a minimum of seven members.

MK Otniel Schneller (Kadima) appears to be one of the rebels. He said Sunday morning that "We are en route to the end of the Kadima era as we know it after Mrs. (Tzipi) Livni and Mr. (Haim) Ramon undermined Kadima's existence in the period when they were in office [as MKs] and certainly now that they are out."

"The party leadership is on self destruct," he mourned in an interview on Radio 103FM.